VH-CZE Douglas DC-9-31

VH-CZE. Douglas DC-9-31. c/n 47202-400.

Was also registered as: N931ML; N965VV; N132NK.

This was the fifth of the six original DC-9s ordered new by Ansett - March 24, 1965

First flown - October 19, 1968

Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-CZE - October 31, 1968

Registered to Ansett Transport Industries (Operations) Pty Ltd, Melbourne

Accepted by Ansett at Long Beach - November 02, 1968

Departed Long Beach on the delivery flight to Australia - November 02, 1968

It arrived at Melbourne (Essendon) Airport on completion of the delivery flight - November 04, 1968

Delivery route: Long Beach - Honolulu - Pago Pago - Tontouta - Melbourne

Flight crew: Captains M. Wheaton, R. Pyke, A. James; Navigator W. C. Kennedy

Operated first revenue service - November 07, 1968

Operated final revenue service Sydney (Kingsford Smith) - Melbourne (Tullamarine) as AN33 - July 15, 1981

Placed in open storage at Melbourne (Tullamarine) having flown 32,802 hours

Sold to Midway Airlines Inc, U.S.A.

Departed Melbourne on the ferry flight to the United States - July 25, 1981

Ferry route: Melbourne - Nadi - Pago Pago - Hilo - Seattle - Amarillo - St Petersburg (Clearwater)

Flight crew: Captains F. Boomsma, E. Walters; F/E E. Kelly

Entered onto the United States Aircraft Register as N931ML - July 1981

The aircraft was named 'City of Detroit'

Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - October 05, 1981

Sold to NSJ Corp with the lease continuing to Midway Airlines - January 24, 1990

Returned to NSJ Corporation at the end of the lease - September 12, 1991

Leased to Express One International Inc - September 26, 1991 to June 1995

Leased to Valujet Airlines Inc, Atlanta, Georgia - August 1995

Sold to Valujet Airlines - November 17, 1995

Reregistered as N965VV - August 1996

Leased to Spirit Airlines Inc, Detroit, MI - April 16, 1997

Reregistered as N132NK - August 1997

Withdrawn from service and placed in storage at Mojave - 1998 to December 09, 1999

Sold to Aeroturbine, Inc, Miami, FL - December 29, 1999

Flown to Opa Locka, Florida - December 1999

It was observed at Opa-Locka minus most parts - July 08, 2000

Cancelled from the United States Aircraft Register - May 17, 2006

Completely broken up at Opa Locka - October 2010

VH-CZE. Ansett-ANA - in the standard livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, January 1970.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1135-130.)

VH-CZE. Ansett-ANA - in the standard livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, date unknown.

(G. Bennett Collection Copyright Image 1135-508.)

VH-CZE. Ansett Airlines of Australia - in the 'delta' livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, January 07, 1978.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 1135-167.)

VH-CZE. Ansett Airlines of Australia - in the 'delta' livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, July 21, 1978.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 1135-131.)

VH-CZE. Ansett Airlines of Australia - in the 'delta' livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, May 05, 1979.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 1135-102.)

VH-CZE. Ansett Airlines of Australia - in the 'delta' livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, September 17, 1979.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 1135-168.)

VH-CZE. Ansett Airlines of Australia - in the 'delta' livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, August 06, 1980.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 1135-169.)

VH-CZE. Ansett Airlines of Australia - in the 'delta' livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, August 08, 1980.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 1135-170.)

VH-CZE. Ansett Airlines of Australia - in the 'delta' livery with additional 'Official Carrier Commonwealth Games Brisbane 1982' titles at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, July 1981.